AI ‘voice cloning’ scams are on the rise. Here’s how to protect yourself
Criminals used AI-generated audio to imitate her daughter’s voice and pressure her into wiring the money, experts said.
- California mother Deborah Del Mastro lost $5,400 this month after receiving a call from an unknown male who used AI to mimic her daughter Sarah's voice, claiming she had been kidnapped and demanding money for her release.
- Sophisticated attackers use "voice skinning" to manipulate a scammer's voice so they sound like the target in real time, said Henry Ajder, an AI-generated media expert, noting replicas are now indistinguishable from genuine voices.
- Americans lost more than $893 million to AI-related scams last year, including voice cloning attacks and phishing emails, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, highlighting the scale of the threat.
- Del Mastro discovered the scam only after wiring funds, when she called her daughter at work and Sarah answered immediately. She now urges others to question suspicious requests rather than panic.
- Families should establish a precautionary "code word" to verify identities during urgent calls, using alternative methods like text messages or calling through other phones to confirm a loved one's safety before sending money.
13 Articles
13 Articles
By Clare Duffy, CNN - A California mother says she was scammed out of thousands of dollars this month after receiving a call that sounded like her distraught daughter. Now she suspects it was an AI-generated hoax. She's one of many people who have fallen victim to "voice cloning" scams via phone calls, as AI tools can create a convincing replica of someone else's voice using just a few seconds of real audio. According to the FBI, Americans lost …
AI ‘voice cloning’ scams are on the rise. Here’s how to protect yourself
A California mom says she was scammed out of thousands of dollars this month after receiving a call that sounded like her daughter in distress. She now suspects it was an artificial intelligence-generated hoax.
'Mom, I'm So Scared': California Woman Loses Thousands After AI Clones Daughter's Voice In Fake Kidnapping
With the advent of artificial intelligence, its potential applications continue to grow. Ideally, this technology is promoted to enhance efficiency and productivity. However, some have begun exploiting it for criminal purposes, often targeting ordinary people. Such was the case for a California Bay Area woman who was scammed after being led to believe her daughter had been kidnapped. Deborah Del Mastro said she received a call from an unknown ma…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 69% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
